FIFA to consider allowing 4th substitute in extra time at next World Cup
Managers are always lauded when they make a substitution that alters the course of a match. They may be getting an additional opportunity to do just that at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
FIFA Technical Study Group considering proposal to FIFA over a fourth substitute in extra time in World Cup games. Thoughts?
— Bryan Swanson (@skysports_bryan) July 2, 2014
Gerard Houllier says FIFA's technical study group will present the idea to the governing body once again - it has already been rejected in the past by the sport's rules-making panel.
''It's a good idea. Only in extra time," he said, according to the Associated Press. "Maybe if someone is injured, why not?
In the Round of 16 alone, the impact of late subs has been astonishing. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored the winner (from the penalty spot) in injury time against Mexico. Andre Schurrle helped Germany find the breakthrough in extra time against Algeria. Romelu Lukaku's introduction was the turning point for Belgium against the United States.
There have been 29 goals scored by substitutes so far in Brazil, a World Cup record.